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DR ANTHONY MELVIN CRASTO, Born in Mumbai in 1964 and graduated from Mumbai University, Completed his Ph.D from ICT, 1991,Matunga, Mumbai, India, in Organic Chemistry, The thesis topic was Synthesis of Novel Pyrethroid Analogues, Currently he is working with GLENMARK PHARMACEUTICALS LTD, Research Centre as Principal Scientist, Process Research (bulk actives) at Mahape, Navi Mumbai, India. Total Industry exp 30 plus yrs, Prior to joining Glenmark, he has worked with major multinationals like Hoechst Marion Roussel, now Sanofi, Searle India Ltd, now RPG lifesciences, etc. He has worked with notable scientists like Dr K Nagarajan, Dr Ralph Stapel, Prof S Seshadri, Dr T.V. Radhakrishnan and Dr B. K. Kulkarni, etc, He did custom synthesis for major multinationals in his career like BASF, Novartis, Sanofi, etc., He has worked in Discovery, Natural products, Bulk drugs, Generics, Intermediates, Fine chemicals, Neutraceuticals, GMP, Scaleups, etc, he is now helping millions, has 9 million plus hits on Google on all Organic chemistry websites. His friends call him Open superstar worlddrugtracker. His New Drug Approvals, Green Chemistry International, All about drugs, Eurekamoments, Organic spectroscopy international,
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Some results from the FRAME[6] and ARCH clinical studies were reported on in 2017.[7]

Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare has granted a marketing authorization for romosozumab (EVENITY)for the treatment of osteoporosis in patients at high risk of fracture. Developed by Amgen and UCB, romosozumab is a humanized IgG2 monoclonal antibody that targets sclerostin. The approval in Japan is based on results from the Phase 3 FRAME and BRIDGE studies, which included 7,180 postmenopausal women with osteoporosis and 245 men with osteoporosis, respectively.

A biologics license application (BLA) for romosozumab as a treatment of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women at high risk for fracture was submitted to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in July 2016, but additional safety and efficacy data was requested in the FDA’s complete response letter, as announced by Amgen and UCB in July 2017. In July 2018, Amgen and UCB announced that the BLA had been resubmitted. In addition to data from early-stage clinical studies, the original BLA included data from the Phase 3 FRAME study. The resubmitted BLA includes results from the more recent Phase 3 ARCH study, an alendronate-active comparator trial including 4,093 postmenopausal women with osteoporosis who experienced a fracture, and the Phase 3 BRIDGE study. The FDA’s Bone, Reproductive and Urologic Drugs Advisory Committee is scheduled to review data supporting the BLA for romosozumab at a meeting on January 16, 2019.

The European Medicines Agency is also currently reviewing a marketing application for romosozumab.

Commercial production of cell culture-derived products (for example, protein-based products, such as monoclonal antibodies (mAbs)), requires optimization of cell culture parameters in order for the cells to produce enough product to meet clinical and commercial demands. However, when cell culture parameters are optimized for improving productivity of a protein product, it is also necessary to maintain desired quality specifications of the product such as glycosylation profile, aggregate levels, charge heterogeneity, and amino acid sequence integrity (Li, et al., 2010 , mAbs., 2(5):466-477).

For instance, an increase of over 20% volumetric titer results in a significant improvement in large-scale monoclonal antibody production economics. Additionally, the ability to control the glycan forms of proteins produced in cell culture is important. Glycan species have been shown to significantly influence pharmacokinetics (PK) and pharmacodynamics (PD) of therapeutic proteins such as mAbs. Moreover, the ability to modulate the relative percentage of various glycan species can have drastic results over the behavior of a protein in vivo. For example, increased mannose-5-N-acetylglycosamine-2 (“Man5”) and other high-mannose glycan species have been shown to decrease mAb in vivo half-life (Liu, 2015 , J Pharm Sci., 104(6):1866-84; Goetze et al., 2011 , Glycobiology, 21(7):949-59; and Kanda et al. 2007 , Glycobiology, 17(1):104-18). On the other hand, glycosylated mAbs with mannose-3-N-acetylglycosamine-4 (“G0”) glycan species have been shown to impact antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC).

Bioreactors have been successfully utilized for the cell-based production of therapeutic proteins using fed-batch, immobilized, perfusion and continuous modes. Strategies, such as the use of temperature, media formulation, including the addition of growth inhibitors, autocrine factors or cyclic mononucleotides, and hyperstimulation by osmolarity stress, have been used to enhance protein production by cells in culture. To the extent that they have worked at all, these approaches have shown only marginal success.

As such, there is a particular need for improved compositions for use in cell culture for the production of medically or industrially useful products, such as antibodies. Ideally, such compositions and methods for utilizing the same would result in higher titers, modulated (e.g. decreased) high and low molecular weight species, as well as a more favorable glycosylation profile of the derived products in cell culture.

Throughout this specification, various patents, patent applications and other types of publications (e.g., journal articles, electronic database entries, etc.) are referenced. The disclosure of all patents, patent applications, and other publications cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety for all purposes.

“DRUG APPROVALS INTERNATIONAL” CATERS TO EDUCATION GLOBALLY, No commercial exploits are done or advertisements added by me. This is a compilation for educational purposes only. P.S. : The views expressed are my personal and in no-way suggest the views of the professional body or the company that I represent

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Fulphila (pegfilgrastim-jmdb) as the first biosimilar to Neulasta (pegfilgrastim) to decrease the chance of infection as suggested by febrile neutropenia (fever, often with other signs of infection, associated with an abnormally low number of infection-fighting white blood cells), in patients with non-myeloid (non-bone marrow) cancer who are receiving myelosuppressive chemotherapy that has a clinically significant incidence of febrile neutropenia.

Release

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Fulphila (pegfilgrastim-jmdb) as the first biosimilar to Neulasta (pegfilgrastim) to decrease the chance of infection as suggested by febrile neutropenia (fever, often with other signs of infection, associated with an abnormally low number of infection-fighting white blood cells), in patients with non-myeloid (non-bone marrow) cancer who are receiving myelosuppressive chemotherapy that has a clinically significant incidence of febrile neutropenia.

“Bringing new biosimilars to patients is a top priority for the FDA, and a key part of our efforts to help promote competition that can reduce drug costs and promote access,” said FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, M.D. “We’ll continue to prioritize reviews of these products to help ensure that biosimilar medications are brought to the market efficiently and through a process that makes certain that these new medicines meet the FDA’s rigorous standard for approval. This summer, we’ll release a comprehensive new plan to advance new policy efforts that promote biosimilar product development. Biologics represent some of the most clinically important, but also costliest products that patients use to promote their health. We want to make sure that the pathway for developing biosimilar versions of approved biologics is efficient and effective, so that patients benefit from competition to existing biologics once lawful intellectual property has lapsed on these products.”

Biological products are generally derived from a living organism and can come from many sources, such as humans, animals, microorganisms or yeast. A biosimilar is a biological product that is approved based on data showing that it is highly similar to a biological product already approved by the FDA (reference product) and has no clinically meaningful differences in terms of safety, purity and potency (i.e., safety and effectiveness) from the reference product, in addition to meeting other criteria specified by law.

The FDA’s approval of Fulphila is based on review of evidence that included extensive structural and functional characterization, animal study data, human pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic data, clinical immunogenicity data, and other clinical safety and effectiveness data that demonstrates Fulphila is biosimilar to Neulasta. Fulphila has been approved as a biosimilar, not as an interchangeable product.

The most common side effects of Fulphila are bone pain and pain in extremities. Patients with a history of serious allergic reactions to human granulocyte colony-stimulating factors such as pegfilgrastim or filgrastim products should not take Fulphila.

Serious side effects from treatment with Fulphila include rupture of the spleen, acute respiratory distress syndrome, serious allergic reactions including anaphylaxis, acute inflammation of the kidney (glomerulonephritis), an abnormally high level of white blood cells (leukocytosis), capillary leak syndrome and the potential for tumor growth. Fatal sickle cell crises have occurred.

Ilumya is specifically indicated for the treatment of adults with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis who are candidates for systemic therapy or phototherapy.

Ilumya is supplied as a solution for subcutaneous injection. The recommended dose is 100 mg at Weeks 0, 4, and every twelve weeks thereafter.

Tildrakizumab (Ilumya) is a monoclonal antibody designed for the treatment of immunologically mediated inflammatory disorders.[1] In the United States, it is approved for the treatment of moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis.[2]

Sun Pharmaceutical acquired worldwide rights to tildrakizumab for use in all human indications from Merck in exchange for an upfront payment of U.S. $80 million. Upon product approval, Sun Pharmaceutical will be responsible for regulatory activities, including subsequent submissions, pharmacovigilance, post approval studies, manufacturing and commercialization of the approved product. [3]

In 2016, tildrakizumab became the first IL-23p19 inhibitor to demonstrate positive results in Phase-3 clinical trials for the treatment of moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis, further validating the importance of the role of IL-23 in psoriasis. Sun Pharma signed a licensing pact with Spain’s Almirall for marketing tildrakizumab in Europe [6]

In 2014, Sun Pharma acquired worldwide rights to tildrakizumab from Merck; upon product approval, Sun Pharma is responsible for regulatory activities, including subsequent submissions, pharmacovigilance, post approval studies, manufacturing and commercialization of the product. In 2016, Almirall sublicensed the product for the development and marketing in Europe for the treatment of psoriasis.

See also

Ustekinumab, a monoclonal antibody targeting both IL-12 and IL-23 and used to treat plaque psoriasis, launched in the United States under the brand name Stelara

Mechanism of Action

Tildrakizumab is a humanized IgG1/k monoclonal antibody that selectively binds to the p19 subunit of IL-23 and inhibits its interaction with the IL-23 receptor. IL-23 is a naturally occurring cytokine that is involved in inflammatory and immune responses. Tildrakizumab inhibits the release of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines.

Please refer to your Biologics License Application (BLA) dated and received March 23, 2017 and your amendments, submitted under section 351(a) of the Public Health Service Act for ILUMYA (tildrakizumab-asmn) injection. We also refer to our approval letter dated March 20, 2018 which contained the following error: the Final Report Submission date was incorrectly listed for postmarketing requirement 3357-3. This replacement approval letter incorporates the correction of the error. The effective approval date will remain March 20, 2018, the date of the original approval letter.

LICENSING We have approved your BLA for ILUMYA (tildrakizumab-asmn) effective this date. You are hereby authorized to introduce or deliver for introduction into interstate commerce, ILUMYA under your existing Department of Health and Human Services U.S. License No. 0002. ILUMYA is indicated for the treatment of adults with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis who are candidates for systemic therapy or phototherapy.

MANUFACTURING LOCATIONS Under this license, you are approved to manufacture ILUMYA drug substance at . The final formulated drug product will be manufactured, filled, labeled, and packaged at MSD Ireland, Carlow, Ireland. You may label your product with the proprietary name, ILUMYA, and market it in 100 mg/1 mL single-dose prefilled syringe

DATING PERIOD The dating period for ILUMYA drug product shall be 36 months from the date of manufacture when stored at 2-8°C. The date of manufacture shall be defined as the date of final sterile filtration of the formulated drug product. The dating period for your drug substance shall be months from the date of manufacture when stored at We have approved the stability protocols in your license application for the purpose of extending the expiration dating period of your drug substance and drug product under 21 CFR 601.12.

Tildrakizumab (SCH 900222/MK-3222) targets the p19 subunit of IL-23. The mAb was developed by Schering-Plough, which was acquired by Merck & Co. in 2009, and it was then licensed by Merck to Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd in September 2014. Clinical development and regulatory activities will be conducted by Merck, but funded by Sun Pharma. As of October 2014, the safety and efficacy of tildrakizumab are being evaluated in 2 Phase 3 studies that are ongoing but not recruiting patients. Both studies include patients with moderate-to-severe chronic plaque psoriasis and subcutaneously administered drug. The 52-week Phase 3 NCT01729754 study has 4 arms (200 mg tildrakizumab; 100 mg tildrakizumab; 50 mg etanercept; and placebo only), and includes an optional long-term safety extension study. The estimated enrollment is 1050, and the estimated primary completion date is October 2019. The 64-week Phase 3 NCT01722331 study is evaluating the effects of either 200 mg or 100 mg tildrakizumab to placebo; it includes an optional long-term safety extension study. The estimated enrollment is 885, and the estimated primary completion date is June 2015.

MUMBAI, India and PRINCETON, N.J., March 21, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (Reuters: SUN.BO, Bloomberg: SUNP IN, NSE: SUNPHARMA, BSE: 524715, “Sun Pharma” and includes its subsidiaries and/or associate companies) today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved ILUMYA™ (tildrakizumab-asmn) for the treatment of adults with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis who are candidates for systemic therapy or phototherapy. ILUMYA selectively binds to the p19 subunit of IL-23 and inhibits its interaction with the IL-23 receptor leading to inhibition of the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines. ILUMYA is administered at a dose of 100 mg by subcutaneous injection every 12 weeks, after the completion of initial doses at weeks 0 and 4. ILUMYA is contraindicated in patients with a previous serious hypersensitivity reaction to tildrakizumab or to any of the excipients.

“With the approval of ILUMYA and our long-standing commitment in dermatology, we are focused on making a difference for people living with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis,” said Abhay Gandhi, President and Chief Executive Officer, North America, Sun Pharma. “We are committed to working with all relevant stakeholders to make ILUMYA available to appropriate people with plaque psoriasis.”

The FDA approval of ILUMYA for the treatment of adults with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis was supported by data from the pivotal Phase-3 reSURFACE clinical development program. In the two multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials (reSURFACE 1 and reSURFACE 2), 926 adult patients were treated with ILUMYA (N=616) or placebo (N=310). Results from these studies were published in The Lancet in July 2017, with primary endpoints presented at the 25th European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV) Congress.

Both Phase-3 studies met the primary efficacy endpoints, demonstrating significant clinical improvement with ILUMYA 100 mg compared to placebo when measured by at least 75 percent of skin clearance (Psoriasis Area Sensitivity Index or PASI 75) and Physician’s Global Assessment (PGA) score of “clear” or “minimal” at week 12 after two doses.

Of the patients in the reSURFACE 1 study 74 percent (229 patients) achieved 75 percent skin clearance at week 28 after three doses, and 84 percent of patients who continued receiving ILUMYA 100 mg maintained PASI 75 at week 64 compared to 22 percent of patients who were re-randomized to placebo. In addition, 69 percent of the patients receiving ILUMYA 100 mg who had a PGA score of “clear” or “minimal” at week 28 maintained this response at week 64 compared to 14 percent of patients who were re-randomized to placebo.

ILUMYA may increase the risk of infection. Treatment with ILUMYA should not be initiated in patients with a clinically important active infection until the infection resolves or is adequately treated. Consider the risks and benefits of treatment prior to prescribing ILUMYA in patients with a chronic infection or a history of recurrent infection. Instruct patients receiving ILUMYA to seek medical help if signs or symptoms of clinically important chronic or acute infection occur. If a patient develops a clinically important or serious infection, or is not responding to standard therapy, closely monitor and discontinue ILUMYA until the infection resolves.

Evaluate patients for TB infection prior to initiating treatment with ILUMYA. Initiate treatment of latent TB prior to administering ILUMYA. Monitor patients for signs and symptoms of active TB during and after ILUMYA treatment. Do not administer ILUMYA to patients with active TB infection.

Prior to initiating ILUMYA, consider completion of all age-appropriate immunizations according to current immunization guidelines. Avoid use of live vaccines in patients treated with ILUMYA.

The most common (≥1%) adverse reactions associated with ILUMYA include upper respiratory infections, injection site reactions, and diarrhea. Adverse reactions that occurred at rates less than 1% but greater than 0.1% in the ILUMYA group and at a higher rate than in the placebo group included dizziness and pain in extremity.

About the Phase-3 reSURFACE TrialsThe Phase-3 studies (reSURFACE 1 and reSURFACE 2) were randomized, placebo-controlled, multicenter, three-part studies designed to demonstrate efficacy of ILUMYA in moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis compared to placebo and comparative drug and to assess safety and tolerability. Part one of the studies randomized patients into three or four treatment arms, including ILUMYA 100 mg, ILUMYA 200 mg, placebo and etanercept (reSURFACE 2 only). After Week 12, patients on placebo were then re-randomized into ILUMYA 100 mg and 200 mg treatment arms to proceed into part two of the studies. Finally, in part three of the reSURFACE 1 study, responders (PASI ≥75) and partial responders (PASI ≥50 and PASI <75) to ILUMYA were re-randomized after Week 28 to continue the same treatment, a different dose of ILUMYA or placebo. Partial and non-responders to etanercept were treated with ILUMYA 200 mg in part three of the reSURFACE 2 study. Patients with guttate, erythrodermic, or pustular psoriasis were excluded.

About PsoriasisPsoriasis is a chronic immune disease that appears on the skin. It is a non-contagious disorder that speeds the growth cycle of skin cells1 and results in thick scaly areas of skin2. The most common form, affecting about 80 to 90 percent of people living with psoriasis, is called plaque psoriasis3. It appears as red, raised areas of skin covered with flaky white scales, which may be itchy and painful and can crack and bleed2. Many people with plaque psoriasis continue to struggle with the ongoing, persistent nature of this chronic disease.

About Sun DermatologySun Dermatology (the branded dermatology division of a wholly owned subsidiary of Sun Pharma) is committed to expanding its dermatology portfolio to bring healthcare providers and patients around the world more treatment options and ongoing support for conditions like moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis. Sun Pharma, along with its subsidiaries, is ranked fourth in dermatology prescription volume within the U.S. per IMS and is fifth largest specialty generic pharmaceutical company globally. In addition to ILUMYA, Sun Dermatology is comprised of several branded products indicated for the treatment of acne and actinic keratosis with a focus on other dermatologic conditions.

About Sun Pharma, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, USA, AgreementSun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.’s wholly owned subsidiary licensed worldwide rights to ILUMYA from a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, USA, in 2014. Funded by a Sun Pharma subsidiary, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, USA was responsible for the completion of Phase-3 trials and submission of a Biologics License Application to the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), as well as manufacturing finished goods to support Sun Pharma’s initial product launch. Sun Pharma will be responsible for all post-approval regulatory activities, including subsequent submissions, pharmacovigilance, post approval studies, manufacturing and commercialization of the approved product. Sun Pharma will also be responsible for all regulatory, pharmacovigilance, post approval studies, manufacturing and commercialization of approved products for all non-U.S. markets. Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, USA is eligible to receive milestone payments and royalties on sales of ILUMYA.

About Sun Pharma, Almirall S.A, Europe, AgreementSun Pharma and its wholly owned subsidiary and Almirall (Spanish Stock Exchange ticker: ALM) closed on July 2016 a licensing agreement on the development and commercialization of tildrakizumab-asmn for psoriasis in Europe. Under the terms of the licensing agreement, Almirall is able to lead European studies, and participate in larger Global clinical studies for plaque psoriasis indication subject to the terms of the Sun Pharma – Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, USA agreements, as well as certain cost sharing agreements. Sun Pharma will be eligible to receive development and regulatory milestone payments and, additionally, sales milestone payments and royalties on net sales. Sun Pharma will continue to lead development of tildrakizumab-asmn for other indications, where Almirall will have right of first negotiation for certain indications in Europe. The agreement between Sun Pharma and Almirall remains subject to the exclusive licensing agreement between Sun Pharma and Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, USA.

About Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (CIN – L24230GJ1993PLC019050)
Sun Pharma is the world’s fifth largest specialty generic pharmaceutical company and India’s top pharmaceutical company. A vertically integrated business, economies of scale and an extremely skilled team enable us to deliver quality products in a timely manner at affordable prices. It provides high-quality, affordable medicines trusted by customers and patients in over 150 countries across the world. Sun Pharma’s global presence is supported by 41 manufacturing facilities spread across 6 continents, R&D centres across the globe and a multi-cultural workforce comprising over 50 nationalities. In India, the company enjoys leadership across 11 different classes of doctors with 30 brands featuring amongst top 300 pharmaceutical brands in India. Its footprint across emerging markets covers over 100 markets and 6 markets in Western Europe. Its Global Consumer Healthcare business is ranked amongst Top 10 across 3 global markets. Its API business footprint is strengthened through 14 world class API manufacturing facilities across the globe. Sun Pharma fosters excellence through innovation supported by strong R&D capabilities comprising about 2,000 scientists and R&D investments of approximately 8% of annual revenues. For further information, please visit www.sunpharma.com & follow us on Twitter @SunPharma_Live.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Mylotarg (gemtuzumab ozogamicin) for the treatment of adults with newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia whose tumors express the CD33 antigen (CD33-positive AML). The FDA also approved Mylotarg for the treatment of patients aged 2 years and older with CD33-positive AML who have experienced a relapse or who have not responded to initial treatment (refractory).

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Mylotarg (gemtuzumab ozogamicin) for the treatment of adults with newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia whose tumors express the CD33 antigen (CD33-positive AML). The FDA also approved Mylotarg for the treatment of patients aged 2 years and older with CD33-positive AML who have experienced a relapse or who have not responded to initial treatment (refractory).

Mylotarg originally received accelerated approval in May 2000 as a stand-alone treatment for older patients with CD33-positive AML who had experienced a relapse. Mylotarg was voluntarily withdrawn from the market after subsequent confirmatory trials failed to verify clinical benefit and demonstrated safety concerns, including a high number of early deaths. Today’s approval includes a lower recommended dose, a different schedule in combination with chemotherapy or on its own, and a new patient population.

“We are approving Mylotarg after a careful review of the new dosing regimen, which has shown that the benefits of this treatment outweigh the risk,” said Richard Pazdur, M.D., director of the FDA’s Oncology Center of Excellence and acting director of the Office of Hematology and Oncology Products in the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. “Mylotarg’s history underscores the importance of examining alternative dosing, scheduling, and administration of therapies for patients with cancer, especially in those who may be most vulnerable to the side effects of treatment.”

AML is a rapidly progressing cancer that forms in the bone marrow and results in an increased number of white blood cells in the bloodstream. The National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health estimates that approximately 21,380 people will be diagnosed with AML this year and that 10,590 patients with AML will die of the disease.

Mylotarg is a targeted therapy that consists of an antibody connected to an anti-tumor agent that is toxic to cells. It is thought to work by taking the anti-tumor agent to the AML cells that express the CD33 antigen, blocking the growth of cancerous cells and causing cell death.

The safety and efficacy of Mylotarg in combination with chemotherapy for adults were studied in a trial of 271 patients with newly diagnosed CD33-positive AML who were randomized to receive Mylotarg in combination with daunorubicin and cytarabine or to receive daunorubicin and cytarabine without Mylotarg. The trial measured “event-free survival,” or how long patients went without certain complications, including failure to respond to treatment, disease relapse or death, from the date they started the trial. Patients who received Mylotarg in combination with chemotherapy went longer without complications than those who received chemotherapy alone (median, event-free survival 17.3 months vs. 9.5 months).

The safety and efficacy of Mylotarg as a stand-alone treatment were studied in two, separate trials. The first trial included 237 patients with newly diagnosed AML who could not tolerate or chose not to receive intensive chemotherapy. Patients were randomized to receive treatment with Mylotarg or best supportive care. The trial measured “overall survival,” or how long patients survived from the date they started the trial. Patients who received Mylotarg survived longer than those who received only best supportive care (median overall survival 4.9 months vs. 3.6 months). The second trial was a single-arm study that included 57 patients with CD33-positive AML who had experienced one relapse of disease. Patients received a single course of Mylotarg. The trial measured how many patients achieved a complete remission. Following treatment with Mylotarg, 26 percent of patients achieved a complete remission that lasted a median 11.6 months.

Common side effects of Mylotarg include fever (pyrexia), nausea, infection, vomiting, bleeding, low levels of platelets in the blood (thrombocytopenia), swelling and sores in the mouth (stomatitis), constipation, rash, headache, elevated liver function tests, and low levels of certain white blood cells (neutropenia). Severe side effects of Mylotarg include low blood counts, infections, liver damage, blockage of the veins in the liver (hepatic veno-occlusive disease), infusion-related reactions, and severe bleeding (hemorrhage). Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should not take Mylotarg, because it may cause harm to a developing fetus or a newborn baby. Patients with hypersensitivity to Mylotarg or any component of its formulation should not use Mylotarg.

The prescribing information for Mylotarg includes a boxed warning that severe or fatal liver damage (hepatotoxicity), including blockage of veins in the liver (veno-occlusive disease or sinusoidal obstruction syndrome), occurred in some patients who took Mylotarg.

Mylotarg received Orphan Drug designation, which provides incentives to assist and encourage the development of drugs for rare diseases.

Mechanism and side effects

Gemtuzumab is a monoclonal antibody to CD33 linked to a cytotoxic agent from the class of calicheamicins. CD33 is expressed in most leukemic blast cells but also in normal hematopoietic cells, the intensity diminishing with maturation of stem cells.

Within the first year after approval, the FDA required a black box warning be added to Gemtuzumab packaging. The drug was noted to increase the risk of veno-occlusive disease in the absence of bone marrow transplantation.[9] Later the onset of VOD was shown to occur at increased frequency in Gemtuzumab patients even following bone marrow transplantation.[10] The drug was discussed in a 2008 JAMA article, which criticized the inadequacy of postmarketing surveillance of biologic agents.[11]

A randomized phase 3 comparative controlled trial (SWOG S0106) was initiated in 2004 by Wyeth in accordance with the FDA accelerated-approval process. The study was stopped[when?] prior to completion due to worrisome outcomes. Among the patients evaluated for early toxicity, fatal toxicity rate was significantly higher in the gemtuzumab combination therapy group vs the standard therapy group. Mortality was 5.7% with gemtuzumab and 1.4% without the agent (16/283 = 5.7% vs 4/281 = 1.4%; P = .01).[7]

In June 2010, Pfizer withdrew Mylotarg from the market at the request of the US FDA.[12][13] However, some other regulatory authorities did not agree with the FDA decision, with Japan’s Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency stating in 2011 that the “risk-benefit balance of gemtuzumab ozogamicin has not changed from its state at the time of approval”.[14]

In early 2017 Pfizer reapplied for US and EU approval, based on a meta-analysis of prior trials and results of the ALFA-0701 clinical trial, an open-label Phase III trial in 280 older people with AML. [8]

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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a historic action today making the first gene therapy available in the United States, ushering in a new approach to the treatment of cancer and other serious and life-threatening diseases

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a historic action today making the first gene therapy available in the United States, ushering in a new approach to the treatment of cancer and other serious and life-threatening diseases.

The FDA approved Kymriah (tisagenlecleucel) for certain pediatric and young adult patients with a form of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).

“We’re entering a new frontier in medical innovation with the ability to reprogram a patient’s own cells to attack a deadly cancer,” said FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, M.D. “New technologies such as gene and cell therapies hold out the potential to transform medicine and create an inflection point in our ability to treat and even cure many intractable illnesses. At the FDA, we’re committed to helping expedite the development and review of groundbreaking treatments that have the potential to be life-saving.”

Kymriah, a cell-based gene therapy, is approved in the United States for the treatment of patients up to 25 years of age with B-cell precursor ALL that is refractory or in second or later relapse.

Kymriah is a genetically-modified autologous T-cell immunotherapy. Each dose of Kymriah is a customized treatment created using an individual patient’s own T-cells, a type of white blood cell known as a lymphocyte. The patient’s T-cells are collected and sent to a manufacturing center where they are genetically modified to include a new gene that contains a specific protein (a chimeric antigen receptor or CAR) that directs the T-cells to target and kill leukemia cells that have a specific antigen (CD19) on the surface. Once the cells are modified, they are infused back into the patient to kill the cancer cells.

ALL is a cancer of the bone marrow and blood, in which the body makes abnormal lymphocytes. The disease progresses quickly and is the most common childhood cancer in the U.S. The National Cancer Institute estimates that approximately 3,100 patients aged 20 and younger are diagnosed with ALL each year. ALL can be of either T- or B-cell origin, with B-cell the most common. Kymriah is approved for use in pediatric and young adult patients with B-cell ALL and is intended for patients whose cancer has not responded to or has returned after initial treatment, which occurs in an estimated 15-20 percent of patients.

“Kymriah is a first-of-its-kind treatment approach that fills an important unmet need for children and young adults with this serious disease,” said Peter Marks, M.D., Ph.D., director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER). “Not only does Kymriah provide these patients with a new treatment option where very limited options existed, but a treatment option that has shown promising remission and survival rates in clinical trials.”

The safety and efficacy of Kymriah were demonstrated in one multicenter clinical trial of 63 pediatric and young adult patients with relapsed or refractory B-cell precursor ALL. The overall remission rate within three months of treatment was 83 percent.

Treatment with Kymriah has the potential to cause severe side effects. It carries a boxed warning for cytokine release syndrome (CRS), which is a systemic response to the activation and proliferation of CAR T-cells causing high fever and flu-like symptoms, and for neurological events. Both CRS and neurological events can be life-threatening. Other severe side effects of Kymriah include serious infections, low blood pressure (hypotension), acute kidney injury, fever, and decreased oxygen (hypoxia). Most symptoms appear within one to 22 days following infusion of Kymriah. Since the CD19 antigen is also present on normal B-cells, and Kymriah will also destroy those normal B cells that produce antibodies, there may be an increased risk of infections for a prolonged period of time.

The FDA today also expanded the approval of Actemra (tocilizumab) to treat CAR T-cell-induced severe or life-threatening CRS in patients 2 years of age or older. In clinical trials in patients treated with CAR-T cells, 69 percent of patients had complete resolution of CRS within two weeks following one or two doses of Actemra.

Because of the risk of CRS and neurological events, Kymriah is being approved with a risk evaluation and mitigation strategy (REMS), which includes elements to assure safe use (ETASU). The FDA is requiring that hospitals and their associated clinics that dispense Kymriah be specially certified. As part of that certification, staff involved in the prescribing, dispensing, or administering of Kymriah are required to be trained to recognize and manage CRS and neurological events. Additionally, the certified health care settings are required to have protocols in place to ensure that Kymriah is only given to patients after verifying that tocilizumab is available for immediate administration. The REMS program specifies that patients be informed of the signs and symptoms of CRS and neurological toxicities following infusion – and of the importance of promptly returning to the treatment site if they develop fever or other adverse reactions after receiving treatment with Kymriah.

To further evaluate the long-term safety, Novartis is also required to conduct a post-marketing observational study involving patients treated with Kymriah.

The FDA granted Kymriah Priority Review and Breakthrough Therapy designations. The Kymriah application was reviewed using a coordinated, cross-agency approach. The clinical review was coordinated by the FDA’s Oncology Center of Excellence, while CBER conducted all other aspects of review and made the final product approval determination.

The FDA granted approval of Kymriah to Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp. The FDA granted the expanded approval of Actemra to Genentech Inc.

FDA approves Amjevita, a biosimilar to Humira

For Immediate Release

Release

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Amjevita (adalimumab-atto) as a biosimilar to Humira (adalimumab) for multiple inflammatory diseases.

Amjevita is approved for the following indications in adult patients:

moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis;

active psoriatic arthritis;

active ankylosing spondylitis (an arthritis that affects the spine);

moderately to severely active Crohn’s disease;

moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis; and

moderate to severe plaque psoriasis.

Amjevita is also indicated for moderately to severely active polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis in patients four years of age and older.

Health care professionals should review the prescribing information in the labeling for detailed information about the approved uses.

“This is the fourth FDA-approved biosimilar. The biosimilar pathway is still a new frontier and one that we expect will enhance access to treatment for patients with serious medical conditions,” said Janet Woodcock, M.D., director of the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research.

Biological products are generally derived from a living organism and can come from many sources, including humans, animals, microorganisms or yeast. A biosimilar is a biological product that is approved based on a showing that it is highly similar to an already-approved biological product and has no clinically meaningful differences in terms of safety, purity and potency (i.e., safety and effectiveness) from the reference product, in addition to meeting other criteria specified by law.

The FDA’s approval of Amjevita is based on review of evidence that included structural and functional characterization, animal study data, human pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamics data, clinical immunogenicity data and other clinical safety and effectiveness data that demonstrates Amjevita is biosimilar to Humira. It has been approved as a biosimilar, not as an interchangeableproduct.

The most serious known side effects with Amjevita are infections and malignancies. The most common expected adverse reactions with Amjevita are infections and injection site reactions.

Like Humira, the labeling for Amjevita contains a Boxed Warning to alert health care professionals and patients about an increased risk of serious infections leading to hospitalization or death. The Boxed Warning also notes that lymphoma and other malignancies, some fatal, have been reported in children and adolescent patients treated with tumor necrosis factor blockers, including adalimumab products. The drug must be dispensed with a patient Medication Guide that describes important information about its uses and risks.

Amjevita is manufactured by Amgen, Inc., of Thousand Oaks, California. Humira was approved in December 2002 and is manufactured by AbbVie Inc. of North Chicago, Illinois.

Like this:

Antibodies are used extensively for a wide range of basic research and clinical applications. While an abundant and diverse collection of antibodies to protein antigens have been developed, good monoclonal antibodies to carbohydrates are much less common. Moreover, it can be difficult to determine if a particular antibody has the appropriate specificity, which antibody is best suited for a given application, and where to obtain that antibody. Herein, we provide an overview of the current state of the field, discuss challenges for selecting and using antiglycan antibodies, and summarize deficiencies in the existing repertoire of antiglycan antibodies. This perspective was enabled by collecting information from publications, databases, and commercial entities and assembling it into a single database, referred to as the Database of Anti-Glycan Reagents (DAGR). DAGR is a publicly available, comprehensive resource for anticarbohydrate antibodies, their applications, availability, and quality

Monoclonal antibodies have transformed biomedical research and clinical care. In basic research, these proteins are used widely for a myriad of applications, such as monitoring/detecting expression of biomolecules in tissue samples, activating or antagonizing various biological pathways, and purifying antigens. To illustrate the magnitude and importance of the antibody reagent market, one commercial supplier sells over 50 000 unique monoclonal antibody clones. In a clinical setting, antibodies are used frequently as therapeutic agents and for diagnostic applications. As a result, monoclonal antibodies are a multibillion dollar industry, with antibody therapeutics estimated at greater than $40 billion annually, diagnostics at roughly $8 billion annually, and antibody reagents at $2 billion annually as of 2012

Perspectives on Anti-Glycan Antibodies Gleaned from Development of a Community Resource Database

ACS Editors’ Choice – This is an open access article published under an ACS AuthorChoice License, which permits copying and redistribution of the article or any adaptations for non-commercial purposes.

The Gildersleeve group works at the interface of chemistry, glycobiology, and immunology. We use chemical approaches to 1) aid the design and development of cancer and HIV vaccines, 2) identify clinically useful biomarkers, and 3) better understand the roles of carbohydrates in cancer and HIV immunology. To facilitate these studies, we have developed a glycan microarray that allows high-throughput profiling of serum anti-glycan antibody populations.

The Gildersleeve group works at the interface of chemistry, glycobiology, and immunology. We use chemical approaches to 1) aid the design and development of cancer and HIV vaccines, 2) identify clinically useful biomarkers, and 3) better understand the roles of carbohydrates in cancer and HIV immunology. To facilitate these studies, we have developed a glycan microarray that allows high-throughput profiling of serum anti-glycan antibody populations. A number of other groups have also developed glycan arrays; our array is unique in that we use multivalent neoglycoproteins as our array components. This format allows us to readily translate array results to other applications and affords novel approaches to vary glycan presentation.

The main focus of our current and future research is to study the roles of anti-glycan antibodies in the development, progression, and treatment of cancer. These projects are shedding new light on how cancer vaccines work and are uncovering new biomarkers for the early detection, diagnosis, and prognosis of cancer. In particular, we are studying immune responses induced by PROSTVAC-VF, a cancer vaccine in Phase III clinical trials for the treatment of advanced prostate cancer. In addition, we are identifying biomarkers for the early detection and prognosis of ovarian and lung cancer. These projects are highly collaborative in nature and are focused on translating basic research from the bench to the clinic. We rely heavily on glycan array technology to study immune responses to carbohydrates, and we continually strive to improve this technology. First, carbohydrate-protein interactions often involve formation of multivalent complexes. Therefore, presentation is a key feature of recognition. We have developed several new approaches to vary carbohydrate presentation on the surface of the array, including methods to vary glycan density and neoglycoprotein density. Second, we use synthetic organic chemistry to obtain a diverse set of tumor-associated carbohydrates and glycopeptides to populate our array.

Collaborations and Carbohydrate Microarray Screening. We are frequently asked to screen lectins, antibodies, and other entities on our array. Although we are not a core facility and do not provide screening services per se, we are happy to collaborate on many projects. Please contact Jeff Gildersleeve for more details.

Scientific Focus Areas:

Chemical Biology, Immunology

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CBL’s Eric Sterner wins NIH FARE Award

Dr. Eric Sterner, a postdoctoral CRTA Fellow in the Gilderlseeve Lab was presented with a FARE award for his abstract entitled, “Profiling Mutational Significance in Germline-to-Affinity Mature 3F8 Variants” in the NIH-wide FARE 2016 competition. This award is given to abstracts that are deemed outstanding based on scientific merit, originality, experimental design and overall quality and presentation. FARE 2016 is sponsored by the NIH Scientific Directors, the Office of Intramural Training & Education and FelCom. The FARE 2016 Award is a $1000 travel grant to attend and present this work at a scientific meeting within the United States.

– Ran on section of the Organic Chemistry I laboratory course for two semesters
– Worked with students in a laboratory setting and office hours to help them understand course materials and experimental procedures
– Worked with professors and other TAs to help develop and grade examinations

– Used protein crystallization to research ligand binding in a protein kinase system
– Learned a variety of laboratory techniques, including: expression and purification of proteins, and various protein crystallization techniques
– Gained a basic knowledge for how to interpret electron density maps used in three-dimensional protein structure determination
– Presented my research project at an internal poster presentation

Daratumumab (HuMax®-CD38)

Daratumumab (Darzalex) is an anti-cancer drug. It binds to CD38.[1] Daratumumab was originally developed by Genmab, but it is now being jointly developed by Genmab along with the Johnson & Johnson subsidiary Janssen Biotech, which acquired worldwide commercialization rights to the drug from Genmab.[2]

Clinical trials

Encouraging preliminary results were reported in June 2012 from a Phase 1/2 clinical trial in relapsed multiple myeloma patients.[3]Updated trial results presented in December 2012 indicate daratumumab is continuing to show promising single-agent anti-myeloma activity.[4] A 2015 study compared monotherapy 8 and 16mg/kg at monthly to weekly intervals.[5]

In November 2015, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved daratumumab for treatement of multiple myeloma.[6]

Interference with blood compatibility testing

Daratumumab can also bind to CD38 present on red blood cells and interfere with antibody testing. Patients will show a panreactive antibody panel, including a positive auto-control. Treatment of the antibody panel cells with dithiothreitol (DTT) and repeating testing will effectively negate the binding of daratumumab to CD38 on the RBC surface; however, DTT also inactivates/destroys many antigens on the RBC surface by disrupting disulfide bonds. Fortunately, the only antigen system affected that is associated with common, clinically significant antibodies is Kell, making K-negative RBCs a reasonable alternative when urgent transfusion is indicated.[7]

Daratumumab is a human IgG1k monoclonal antibody (mAb) that binds with high affinity to the CD38 molecule, which is highly expressed on the surface of multiple myeloma cells. It is believed to induce rapid tumor cell death through programmed cell death, or apoptosis, and multiple immune-mediated mechanisms, including complement-dependent cytotoxicity, antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis and antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity.

Daratumumab is approved in the United States for the treatment of patients with multiple myeloma who have received at least three prior lines of therapy, including a proteasome inhibitor (PI) and an immunomodulatory agent, or who are double-refractory to a PI and an immunomodulatory agent.

In May 2013, daratumumab received Fast Track Designation and Breakthrough Therapy Designation from the US FDA for the treatment of patients with multiple myeloma who have received at least three prior lines of therapy including a PI and an immunomodulatory agent or who are double refractory to a PI and an immunomodulatory agent. Breakthrough Therapy Designation is a program intended to expedite the development and review of drugs to treat serious or life-threatening diseases in cases where preliminary clinical evidence shows that the drug may provide substantial improvements over available therapy. Daratumumab has also received Orphan Drug Designation from the US FDA and the EMA for the treatment of multiple myeloma.

Five Phase III clinical studies with daratumumab in relapsed and frontline settings are currently ongoing. Additional studies are ongoing or planned to assess its potential in other malignant and pre-malignant diseases on which CD38 is expressed, such as smoldering myeloma and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

Genmab announced a global license and development agreement for daratumumab with Janssen Biotech, Inc. in August 2012. The agreement became effective in September 2012.

DARZALEX® (daratumumab) Approved by U.S. FDA: First Human Anti-CD38 Monoclonal Antibody Available for the Treatment of Multiple Myeloma

First-in-class immunotherapy approved for multiple myeloma patients who have received three or more prior lines of therapy, including a proteasome inhibitor (PI) and an immunomodulatory agent or who are double refractory to a PI and immunomodulatory agent
HORSHAM, PA, November 16, 2015 – Janssen Biotech, Inc., a Janssen Pharmaceutical Company of Johnson & Johnson, announced today the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved DARZALEX® (daratumumab) injection for intravenous infusion for the treatment of patients with multiple myeloma who have received at least three prior lines of therapy, including a proteasome inhibitor (PI) and an immunomodulatory agent, or who are double-refractory to a PI and an immunomodulatory agent.1 This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on response rate. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in confirmatory trials. Multiple myeloma is an incurable blood cancer that occurs when malignant plasma cells grow uncontrollably in the bone marrow.2,3 Refractory cancer occurs when a patient’s disease is resistant to treatment or in the case of multiple myeloma, the disease progresses within 60 days of their last therapy.4,5 Relapsed cancer means the disease has returned after a period of initial, partial or complete remission.6

DARZALEX is the first human anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody (mAb) approved anywhere in the world. CD38 is a surface protein that is expressed by most, if not all, multiple myeloma cells.7 DARZALEX is believed to induce tumor cell death through multiple immune-mediated mechanisms of action,8,9 in addition to apoptosis, in which a series of molecular steps in a cell lead to its death.10 Its approval comes just two months after the Biologics License Application (BLA) was accepted for Priority Review by the FDA in September 2015.11 DARZALEX received Breakthrough Therapy Designation from the FDA for this indication in May 2013.12

“Multiple myeloma is a highly complex disease and remains incurable, with almost all patients relapsing or becoming resistant to therapy,” said DARZALEX clinical trial investigator Paul G. Richardson, M.D., Clinical Program Leader and Director of Clinical Research, Jerome Lipper Multiple Myeloma Center, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. “With DARZALEX, we have a promising new immunotherapy, which has shown pronounced efficacy as a single agent with an acceptable adverse event profile. This is especially important for treating these heavily pre-treated patients in whom all of the major classes of currently available medicines have failed.”

The pivotal open-label Phase 2 MMY2002 (SIRIUS) study showed treatment with single-agent DARZALEX resulted in an overall response rate (ORR) of 29.2 percent (95% CI; 20.8, 38.9) in patients who received a median of five prior lines of therapy, including a PI and an immunomodulatory agent.1

Stringent complete response (sCR) was reported in 2.8 percent of patients, very good partial response (VGPR) was reported in 9.4 percent of patients, and partial response (PR) was reported in 17 percent of patients.1 These efficacy results were based on ORR as determined by the Independent Review Committee assessment using IMWG (International Myeloma Working Group) criteria and the range for median duration of response.

For responders, the median duration of response was 7.4 months (range 1.2-13.1+ months).1 At baseline, 97 percent of patients were refractory to their last line of therapy, 95 percent were refractory to both a PI and an immunomodulatory agent, and 77 percent were refractory to alkylating agents.1 Additional efficacy data from the Phase 1/2 GEN501 monotherapy study – published in TheNew England Journal of Medicine in August 2015 – also support this approval.1

“The responses we saw in clinical trials that led to today’s approval were striking, especially considering that these patients received a median of five prior lines of therapy,” said MMY2002 investigator Sagar Lonial, M.D., Chief Medical Officer, Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University and Professor and Executive Vice Chair, Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Emory University School of Medicine. “It appears the mechanism of action for daratumumab (DARZALEX) may play an important role in its single-agent activity among this group of advanced-stage multiple myeloma patients.”

“Living with multiple myeloma is challenging, both physically and emotionally, especially as the disease progresses and treatment options become more limited,” said Debby Graff, a patient enrolled in a clinical trial at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. “I am encouraged by emerging treatments for multiple myeloma, and I have a new outlook on my path forward.”

“While there have been considerable improvements over the past decade in the treatment of people living with multiple myeloma, these patients face a long, hard road – especially those whose disease has relapsed or is no longer responding to current therapies,” said Walter M. Capone, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF). “With the approval of daratumumab, a new antibody option targeting CD38, along with ongoing work to advance the development of novel classes of therapies by both Janssen and MMRF, we are ushering in a new era of myeloma therapy focused on individualized treatment approaches for patients with significant unmet needs.”

“Our focus is developing transformational medicines for people living with hard-to-treat cancers, such as multiple myeloma,” said Peter F. Lebowitz, M.D., Ph.D., Global Oncology Head, Janssen. “The rapid development and approval of DARZALEX – the first human anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody – is a great example of this commitment and our ongoing work in developing immunotherapies. We will continue to study this compound as both a mono- and a combination therapy to understand its full clinical benefit for patients across the treatment continuum in multiple myeloma and other tumor types.”

In data from three pooled clinical studies including a total of 156 patients, four percent of patients discontinued treatment due to adverse reactions.1 Infusion reactions were reported in approximately half of all patients treated with DARZALEX.1 Common (≥5 percent) symptoms of infusion reactions included nasal congestion, chills, cough, allergic rhinitis, throat irritation, dyspnea (shortness of breath) and nausea.1 Severe infusion reactions, including bronchospasm, dyspnea, hypoxia and hypertension (<2 percent each).1

The recommended dose of DARZALEX is 16 mg/kg body weight administered as an intravenous infusion.1 The dosing schedule begins with weekly administration (weeks 1-8) and reduces in frequency over time to every two weeks (weeks 9-24) and ultimately every four weeks (week 25 onwards until disease progression).1

In August 2012, Janssen Biotech, Inc. and Genmab A/S entered a worldwide agreement, which granted Janssen an exclusive license to develop, manufacture and commercialize DARZALEX.13 Janssen is currently the global sponsor of all but one clinical study. DARZALEX will be commercialized in the U.S. by Janssen Biotech, Inc.

About Multiple Myeloma
Multiple myeloma is an incurable blood cancer that occurs when malignant plasma cells grow uncontrollably in the bone marrow.2,3 Multiple myeloma is the third most common blood cancer in the U.S., following only leukemia and lymphoma.14 Approximately 26,850 new patients will be diagnosed with multiple myeloma, and approximately 11,240 people will die from the disease in the U.S. in 2015.15 Globally, it is estimated that 124,225 people will be diagnosed, and 87,084 will die from the disease in 2015.16,17 While some patients with multiple myeloma have no symptoms at all, most patients are diagnosed due to symptoms which can include bone problems, low blood counts, calcium elevation, kidney problems or infections.18 Patients who relapse after treatment with standard therapies (including PIs or immunomodulatory agents) typically have poor prognoses and few remaining options.3

Access to DARZALEX® (daratumumab) Injection, for Intravenous Infusion
DARZALEX (daratumumab) injection for intravenous infusion will be available for distribution in the U.S. within two weeks following FDA approval. Janssen Biotech offers comprehensive access and support information, resources and services to assist U.S. patients in gaining access to DARZALEX through the Janssen CarePath Program. For more information, health care providers or patients can contact: 1-844-55DARZA (1-844-553-2792). Information will also be available at www.DARZALEX.com. Dedicated case coordinators are available to work with both healthcare providers and patients.

About DARZALEX®(daratumumab) Injection, for Intravenous Infusion
DARZALEX® (daratumumab) injection for intravenous infusion is indicated for the treatment of patients with multiple myeloma who have received at least three prior lines of therapy, including a proteasome inhibitor (PI) and an immunomodulatory agent, or who are double-refractory to a PI and an immunomodulatory agent.1 This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on response rate. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in confirmatory trials. DARZALEX is the first human anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody (mAb) to receive U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval to treat multiple myeloma. DARZALEX is believed to induce tumor cell death through apoptosis, in which a series of molecular steps in a cell lead to its death1,10 and multiple immune-mediated mechanisms of action, including complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC), antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) and antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis (ADCP).1,8 More information will be available atwww.DARZALEX.com.

Reslizumab was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on March 23, 2016. It was developed and marketed as Cinqair® by Teva.

Reslizumab is an interleukin-5 antagonist, which binds to human IL-5 and prevents it from binding to the IL-5 receptor, thereby reducing eosinophilic inflammation. It is indicated for the maintenance treatment of patients with severe asthma in patients aged 18 years and older.

Cinqair® is available as injection for intravenous infusion, containing 100 mg of reslizumab in 10 mL solution in single-use vials. The recommended dose is 3 mg/kg once every four weeks.

Originator Celltech R&D; Schering-Plough

Developer Celltech R&D; Teva Pharmaceutical Industries

Class Antiasthmatics; Monoclonal antibodies

Mechanism of Action Interleukin 5 receptor antagonists

Orphan Drug Status Yes – Oesophagitis

23 Mar 2016 Registered for Asthma in USA (IV) – First global approval

04 Mar 2016 Pooled efficacy data from two phase III trials in Asthma presented at the 2016 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI-2016)

10 Dec 2015 Preregistration for Asthma in Canada (IV)

Reslizumab (trade name Cinqair) is a humanized monoclonal antibody intended for the treatment of eosinophil-meditated inflammations of the airways, skin and gastrointestinal tract.[1] The FDA approved reslizumab for use with other asthma medicines for the maintenance treatment of severe asthma in patients aged 18 years and older on March 23, 2016. Cinqair is approved for patients who have a history of severe asthma attacks (exacerbations) despite receiving their current asthma medicines.[2]

“Despite currently available medicines, uncontrolled asthma remains a serious problem for patients, physicians and healthcare systems, highlighting the need for targeted new treatment options,” said Dr. Michael Hayden, President of Global R&D and Chief Scientific Officer at Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. “The reslizumab BLA filing acceptance represents a significant milestone for Teva as we work toward serving a specific asthma patient population that is defined by elevated blood eosinophil levels and inadequately controlled symptoms despite standard of care therapy. In clinical trials, patients treated with reslizumab showed significant reductions in the rate of asthma exacerbations and significant improvement in lung function. If approved, we believe reslizumab will serve as an important new targeted treatment option to achieve better asthma control for patients with eosinophil-mediated disease.”

The BLA for reslizumab includes data from Teva’s Phase III BREATH clinical trial program. The program consisted of four separate placebo-controlled Phase III trials involving more than 1,700 adult and adolescent asthma patients with elevated blood eosinophils, whose symptoms were inadequately controlled with inhaled corticosteroid-based therapies. Results from these studies demonstrated that reslizumab, in comparison to placebo, reduced asthma exacerbation rates by at least half and provided significant improvement in lung function and other secondary measures of asthma control when added to an existing ICS-based therapy. Common adverse events in the reslizumab treatment group were comparable to placebo and included worsening of asthma, nasopharyngitis, upper respiratory infections, sinusitis, influenza and headache. Two anaphylactic reactions were reported and resolved following medical treatment at the study site.

Results from the reslizumab BREATH program were recently presented at the American Thoracic Society 2015 Annual Meeting and the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology 2015 Annual Meeting, in addition to being published in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine. The BLA for reslizumab has been accepted for filing by the FDA for standard review, with FDA Regulatory Action expected in March 2016.

About Reslizumab

Reslizumab is an investigational humanized monoclonal antibody which targets interleukin-5 (IL-5). IL-5 is a key cytokine involved in the maturation, recruitment, and activation of eosinophils, which are inflammatory white blood cells implicated in a number of diseases, such as asthma. Elevated levels of blood eosinophils are a risk factor for future asthma exacerbations. Reslizumab binds circulating IL-5 thereby preventing IL-5 from binding to its receptor.

About Asthma

Asthma is a chronic (long term) disease usually characterized by airway inflammation and narrowing of the airways, which can vary over time. Asthma may cause recurring periods of wheezing (a whistling sound when you breathe), chest tightness, shortness of breath and coughing that often occurs at night or early in the morning. Without appropriate treatment, asthma symptoms may become more severe and result in an asthma attack, which can lead to hospitalization and even death.

About Eosinophils

Eosinophils are a type of white blood cell that are present at elevated levels in the lungs and blood of many asthmatics. Evidence shows that eosinophils play an active role in the pathogenesis of the disease. IL-5 has been shown to play a crucial role in maturation, growth and activation of eosinophils. Increased levels of eosinophils in the sputum and blood have been shown to correlate with severity and frequency of asthma exacerbations.

About Teva

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (NYSE and TASE: TEVA) is a leading global pharmaceutical company that delivers high-quality, patient-centric healthcare solutions to millions of patients every day. Headquartered in Israel, Teva is the world’s largest generic medicines producer, leveraging its portfolio of more than 1,000 molecules to produce a wide range of generic products in nearly every therapeutic area. In specialty medicines, Teva has a world-leading position in innovative treatments for disorders of the central nervous system, including pain, as well as a strong portfolio of respiratory products. Teva integrates its generics and specialty capabilities in its global research and development division to create new ways of addressing unmet patient needs by combining drug development capabilities with devices, services and technologies. Teva’s net revenues in 2014 amounted to $20.3 billion. For more information, visit www.tevapharm.com.

USFDA

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Cinqair (reslizumab) for use with other asthma medicines for the maintenance treatment of severe asthma in patients aged 18 years and older. Cinqair is approved for patients who have a history of severe asthma attacks (exacerbations) despite receiving their current asthma medicines.

Asthma is a chronic disease that causes inflammation in the airways of the lungs. During an asthma attack, airways become narrow making it hard to breathe. Severe asthma attacks can lead to asthma-related hospitalizations because these attacks can be serious and even life-threatening. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as of 2013, more than 22 million people in the U.S. have asthma, and there are more than 400,000 asthma-related hospitalizations each year.

“Health care providers and their patients with severe asthma now have another treatment option to consider when the disease is not well controlled by their current asthma therapies,” said Badrul Chowdhury, M.D., Ph.D., director of the Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Rheumatology Products in the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research.

Cinqair is administered once every four weeks via intravenous infusion by a health care professional in a clinical setting prepared to manage anaphylaxis. Cinqair is a humanized interleukin-5 antagonist monoclonal antibody produced by recombinant DNA technology in murine myeloma non-secreting 0 (NS0) cells. Cinqair reduces severe asthma attacks by reducing the levels of blood eosinophils, a type of white blood cell that contributes to the development of asthma.

The safety and efficacy of Cinqair were established in four double-blind, randomized, placebo‑controlled trials in patients with severe asthma on currently available therapies. Cinqair or a placebo was administered to patients every four weeks as an add-on asthma treatment. Compared with placebo, patients with severe asthma receiving Cinqair had fewer asthma attacks, and a longer time to the first attack. In addition, treatment with Cinqair resulted in a significant improvement in lung function, as measured by the volume of air exhaled by patients in one second.

Cinqair can cause serious side effects including allergic (hypersensitivity) reactions. These reactions can be life-threatening. The most common side effects in clinical trials for Cinqair included anaphylaxis, cancer, and muscle pain.